The GTA style
I’ve got to say I’m not a big Grand Theft Auto fan but that was one impressive trailer. I’m still deeply suspicious that’s not the PC or next gen version, but whatever it is it looks amazing. The variety of stuff to do looks amazing, all the vehicles… and the idea of how to plan the heists seems like a very welcome new addition to the series. After Max Payne 3 I assume the combat will be much improved, and if they’re sensible the driving will be like Midnight Club (although I don’t understand why this wasn’t the case with the earlier games as well).

In the interest of fairness what I didn’t like is that the motion capture is still terrible, with everyone walking about flailing their arms like a Thunderbirds puppet and as if they’ve still got a coat hanger in their top. I don’t know if Rockstar thinks that’s the ‘GTA style’ but it looks horrible and outdated.

This is more personal preference but I don’t like any of the characters. Considering there’s three of them you’d think at least one would be someone you’d actually aspire to be, but no. The lack of a female playable character also seems like a worse decision than ever.Gadfly

Jumping to conclusions
Well, seeing the new Grand Theft Auto V gameplay trailer running on a PlayStation 3 absolutely blew my mind. This pretty much confirms that Rockstar haven’t been showing souped up PC footage on all the previous trailers but then again it’s still not 100% certain; the Aliens Colonial Marines incident is still horribly fresh in my mind.

The inclusion of the Max Payne 3 combat system should satisfy everyone after the previous cumbersome shooting mechanics in Grand Theft Auto IV as anyone who’s played Max Payne 3 can confirm its pitch perfect accuracy and satisfying feel.

The only thing I can question is the character switching; will it really be as quick as shown in the trailer with the zoom outs and ins as it seemed to be a pretty important mechanic during the mission at the skyscraper, waiting behind cut scenes would really kill the pacing. The final shot of multiplayer looked insanely fun. Has the number of players been counted or confirmed?moham-24 (PSN ID)

GC: The trailer doesn’t make any mention as to what format it’s running on, although it would certainly be damaging for Rockstar if it was wasn’t Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.They haven’t said anything about the multiplayer, other than it’s called Grand Theft Auto Online. Although it seems a safe assumption we’re also not aware there’s been any confirmation that the combat is based on Max Payne 3.

The Road of Us
Apropos of nothing in particular, I thought it curious that most people think The Last of Us is analogous to The Road (which evidently it is) but haven’t made mention of The Stand by Stephen King which also seems to have been influential on the game too. There’s even a reference to one of the characters in The Stand during the game which may be accidental but that’s probably unlikely.

In fact The Last of Us, more than any other game I’ve ever played, most closely mirrored the experience of reading a good book. Coincidentally, The Stand is definitely worth reading if you never have.Mr Verbosity

GC: The Last of Us takes influences from a number of post-apocalyptic books and films but it’s The Road (the novel, we’ve never seen the film) that’s the closest in terms of tone, characters, and a number of specific plot points.

Glimpse of the future
Hey GC, just wondered if everybody was aware of the debacle surrounding Forza Horizon. I, like many others, downloaded it during the epic game sale. Unfortunately, due mainly to Microsoft’s awe-inspiring incompetence, a large percentage of people are unable to play it due to the disc being dirty. On a downloadable game.

Microsoft’s line is that everyone who downloaded it has a dodgy hard drive, and they are refusing refunds. The word on the web is that it has something to do with them messing up the licensing code. Where does the consumer stand on this one?Chips86
PS: Says a lot for Microsoft’s vision of download only future, eh?

GC: This is the first we’ve heard of it, so we’ll put in a call to Microsoft now. But a quick check around the Internet shows some people are being given refunds, so we’d make sure to demand one yourself.

Back to black
Why are all the new consoles black? I’m fed up with it. I want yellow ones or orange, or even yellow ones with a red edge like Edam. It will make them stand out from all the rest of the boring black things under a TV. The people are calling out for it, just see how much money those Pokémon Game Boys go for on eBay.RyokoSparda

Out of stock
I have to say I’m very glad to hear that the PlayStation 4 seems to be doing well in terms of pre-orders. I know it’s the console I’m intending to get and I think it’s good that Sony is being rewarded for their stance. However, I can’t help thinking that this means the PlayStation 4 manufacturing is way behind and that it will be almost impossible to go into a store to get this Christmas.

That’s good from a PR sense but Sony needs to get ahead of Microsoft as soon as possible, and any excuse that would leave people to just default to the Xbox One is a problem in my book. Once one of the two consoles gets 10 million ahead that’ll be it, and if the PlayStation 4 can do it straight off the grid – as the Wii did this gen – then I think the games industry will be a lot better off.

If the two are neck-and-neck I foresee a lot of bitter PR battles and a lot more exclusive games and downloadable content than we’d get otherwise, which I for one could do without.Baskins

Justifiably praised
I know it’s got some praise already on the Inbox but I just wanted to add how pleasantly surprised I am that Injustice: Gods Among Us is actually a really solid fighter. I’ve always been a Street Fighter purist and so never much of a Mortal Kombat fan but I think this is definitely the best game that team has done. The fighters are nicely varied but they’re not reliant on their special moves and there’s some good technical options in there if you want to dig deep. I also like the using background objects element which I thought would be a gimmick but is also quite technical (lot of people are desperate to use them, leaving them wide open).

Smashing people through skyscrapers is great fun of course but it wouldn’t mean anything if the game itself wasn’t solid. Frankly I’d hate to see the team go back to Mortal Kombat after this as not only have I never liked the universe but Injustice is already a much better.Cole302d

Doomed forever
Just out of nostalgic curiosity I had a playthrough of Doom on the PC the other day and I’ve got to say it’s still a fantastic shooter. The graphics seem very simplistic and stylised now but they still work and it’s still surprisingly creepy and nerve-wracking. But what struck me was how completely unlike a modern day shooter it is, I mean there’s almost no point of comparison except the perspective and the fact you’re shooting things (you know, like 90% of all games).

It simultaneously made me really wish they’d get Doom 4 sorted out and made me hate Doom 3 even more, which completely missed the point of the series and turned it into some weird survival horror hybrid that isn’t scary or fun. I want to be fighting the powers of hell with a shotgun and facing down dozens of enemies at once, not just one or two mercenaries with AK-47s. Is there anything like it about at the moment GC? And I don’t mean low budget rubbish like Serious Sam or Painkiller.Tom Meadows

GC: The setting and atmosphere is different, but Wolfenstein: The New Order impressed us at E3 by being thoroughly old school in its approach. It’s not exactly what you’re looking for, but it’s a start.

Inbox also-rans
Never mind ZombiU, I wonder what’s keeping Beyond Good & Evil 2? I thought they’d been working on it for years and were just waiting for the next gen?Tom Boy

Just want to point out that everyone is right: XCOM: Enemy Unknown is fantastic.Xane

I wonder if Nintendo will do downloadable content for Animal Crossing: New Leaf. I guess probably not considering it’s a good idea. They hate those.Tambor

I’m not big on Halo lore but I’ve always wondered: can Master Chief get out of his suit or is he stuck in it? When he’s done for the day does take it all off and just have a bath or something?Offie

This week’s Hot Topic
The topic for this weekend’s Inbox was suggested by reader PazJohnMitch, who asks what games have you never traded in and why?

Considering the recent furore over used games which titles have you never considered selling on? And is that because they’re simply your favourites – even if they’re very finite single-player titles – or because the multiplayer essentially gives them an infinite lifespan?

Do you trade-in everything, or almost everything you buy, or are you a hoarder who likes to keep a library of their favourite games? Are there any games you’ve bought multiple times: either as a result of trading in and then re-buying or purchasing new versions or remakes?